KELLIHER REALTY

7 Tanager Court

Merrimack, NH  03054

Phone (603) 424-0066

Fax     (603) 424-0182

Seller's Checklist

Prepare:

• Get pre-approved for new home.

• Set your asking price based on the selling prices of similar homes in your neighborhood.

• Estimate how much cash you will get from the sale, after the mortgage and other bills are paid.

• Decide if improvements are need to get your asking price.

• Make improvements that are justified by an increase in the sales price of your home.

• Prepare the Exterior of your home for viewing by prospective buyers.

• Prepare the Interior of your home for viewing.

• Get a set of real estate contracts and disclosure forms (OfficeMax, Office Depot, Staples)

• Fill out a blank sales contract and a set of disclosure forms, and make several copies.

• Consider a professional inspection;    one way to find out what a buyer's inspection will say about your home.  An alternative is a professional appraiser who in addition to helping you set a price can alert you to potential problems with the structure.

• Arrange for a third party to hold deposits or down payments you receive from prospective buyers.  attorneys who do a lot or real estate work will often perform this "escrow" function for a nominal fee (in expectation of the larger "closing" fee).

• Designate the days your home will be available for viewing by prospective buyers (the weekend plus one other day, so you can realistically have the house looking its best for prospective buyers.

Advertise:

• Advertise on the internet

• Write and ad for the real estate section of your local newspaper's weekend edition.

• Compose a flyer/fact sheet, that describes your home, the location, price and how to reach you.

• Make or purchase a large "For Sale By Owner" sign and place it in your front yard.

• Place a dozen flyers/fact sheets in a transparent envelope or large zip-loc bag and attach to your mailbox or your "For Sale By Owner" yard-sign.

• Get your home in the Realtors Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Sell:

• Plan and execute an "Open House" for prospective buyers.

• Post your fact-sheet/flyers on neighborhood bulletin boards, distribute in shopping center parking lots.

• Buyer qualification:  learn how to tell if a prospective buyer can afford your home.

• Negotiate with all serious Buyers.

• Get Buyer's signature on a contract, give him or her a set of disclosure forms, and collect an earnest money deposit.

• Arrange to be home when Buyer's inspector and appraiser come to examine your home.

• Select a real estate attorney to hold the deposit and handle the closing.

Close:

• Re-calculate your estimate of how much cash you will get from the sale after the mortgage and other bills are paid.

• Get a copy of the Settlement Statement at least a day before the closing.  Make sure the "net cash to Seller" is roughly equal to what you estimated.

• Closing day:  Bring your driver's license and the new deed to closing.  Question anything on the Settlement Statement that you don't understand.